Saturday's Ayr Handicap Selections It's the Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday and there's a stunning eight-race offering from Scotland's premier jumps venue. The ongoing battle between Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins for the British trainers' title looks set to take a few more twists, with the Irishman firing six at the big race compared to Skelton's duo. We've picked out three contenders in the handicaps, including the National itself, to consider for Saturday. bet365 Betting Offer If you have already have a bet365 account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses Ayr Handicap Selections 13:10 — The Other Mozzie @ 7/1 with bet365 14:55 — Fox's Fancy @ 8/1 with bet365 15:35 — Hasthing @ 16/1 with bet365 Odds courtesy of bet365 and correct at the time of publishing. Cromwell's challenger worth another chance THE OTHER MOZZIE finished fifth in the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month and that's an effort worth marking up. Gavin Cromwell's charge was out the back for much of that Grade 2 contest and it was a tough ask getting into it, as the pacesetting Caldwell Potter proved quite relentless in front and those that finished closest were always handily placed. The Paul Nicholls-trained winner, competing there off a mark of 146, has since added a Grade 1 win at Aintree. The Other Mozzie can race here from an unchanged mark of 138. Sean Flanagan takes over in the saddle now and while he's once more likely to be ridden patiently, the six-year-old likely does not have any Grade 1 horses lurking and setting the fractions in front. Fox's Fancied for Russell team Lucinda Russell will have had this meeting earmarked in the calendar for some time. She's been a bit quiet since Myretown won at last month's Cheltenham Festival but it should come as no shock if her team manages to go through some gears at Ayr. She has a strike rate of just under 21 per cent at this venue so far in 2025, arriving at the Scottish National meeting with 11 winners already at Ayr. FOX'S FANCY could be another for her in the UK Greentech Glasgow Seafield Trophy Mares' Handicap Hurdle. The Kayf Tara mare remains lightly raced over hurdles, winning her maiden at Perth (2m4f, soft) in this month last year on her second start over timber. She's only been out twice since, running fifth on handicap debut at Wetherby (3m, good to soft) and then a close second behind Ruby Island over 2m5½ (soft) here last month, the pair having come clear to scrap out that finish. The third and fourth have franked that form since and a 5lb rise for Fox's Fancy looks manageable. She's only had that one try at three miles and was perhaps not as sharp at Wetherby in October as she will be now. A personal best from her back in the month of April won't come as a shock for the Russell team at a meeting they love to target. Hasthing to shine for Jonjo team The Jonjo & AJ O'Neill training alliance will hope to make it a real family affair in the Scottish National when Jonjo Jnr gets the leg up on HASTHING in the famous JP McManus silks. The eight-year-old looked an out-and-out stayer when he won over 2m6f at Windsor in January, getting himself outpaced before really motoring home late on to win in strong fashion. From there, he went to Ascot for the Swinley Handicap Chase over three miles and he performed creditably in fourth behind the likes of Victtorino and previous race winner Threeunderthrufive. He was in the process of running a big race at Cheltenham last month in the National Hunt Cup only to come down at the last as Haiti Couleurs won for Rebecca Curtis, with the rival now favourite for the Irish National at Fairyhouse. If Hasthing is no worse for that mishap, he looks a solid contender with the test of stamina to suit and scope for further progress in first-time cheekpieces from an unchanged mark of 133.
